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Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief

Author:
Lawrence Wright
Read by:
Morton Sellers
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Unabridged Audiobook

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Ratings
Book
19
Narrator
10
Release Date
January 17, 2013
Duration
17 hours 24 minutes
Summary
National Book Award Finalist


A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower, the now-classic study of al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attack. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologists—both famous and less well known—and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative ability to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology.

At the book’s center, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion. And his successor, David Miscavige—tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church after the death of Hubbard.

We learn about Scientology’s complicated cosmology and special language. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how such stars are used to advance the church’s goals. And we meet the young idealists who have joined the Sea Org, the church’s clergy, signing up with a billion-year contract.

In Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of this constitutional protection. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observation, understanding, and shaping a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that reveals the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is.
Reviews
Profile Avatar Ms M. Jan 2025

First, I want to say that I respect the author and have read many of his books. They are always well written, incredibly informative, and thoroughly researched. This title however, is a complete overreach of all three of those to the detriment of the readers and the listeners. We become overwhelmed, over informed, and bored beyond belief. This book is too long, and excessively wordy all while keeping a monotone vibe start to finish.

Profile Avatar Kristin L. Mar 2022

The voice actor unfortunately is so monotone, it adds nothing to the content.

Profile Avatar Wendy S Nov 2017

story jumped around too much and narrative was very monotone

Profile Avatar Bethany Castillo Mar 2017

After watching the movie and now reading this book my interest to Scientology has finally came to plaetue. So much more detail... If your looking for more complete character research of Hubbard and others that are or were close to him read this. I'm satisfied, I'll won't be searching for more information on YouTube or watching endless videos of this so called religion.

Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief

Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief

Author: Lawrence Wright
Read by: Morton Sellers
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